OLYMPIC gold medallist Duncan Scott has called on the UK Government to help save the nation’s community swimming pools amid fears that half face closure or cuts.
Scotland’s most decorated Olympic swimmer spoke out as leisure leaders warned a tide of shutdowns are on the cards unless ministers reverse a decision that will see already crippling energy price pressures reach an all-time high.
Without the sector being classed as vulnerable, they have warned that as many as half of Britain’s pools face closure or service cuts, threatening thousands of jobs across the UK.
Posting on Twitter, Scott, who won a gold and three silvers at the Tokyo Olympics, said: “It’s crazy for community swimming pools to be left off the discount scheme. Some leisure centres have seen their electricity bills triple. I’m so frustrated and upset by this. Unless more is done by the Government, we are going to lose community hubs – so much goes on.”
“I take great pride in being a learn to swim ambassador in Scotland. But how many more lessons are children going to be able to have if the number of pools is reduced?”
Their plight is being highlighted as part of Big Swim Day, with the public being urged to swim and demand support for the sector using the hashtag #saveourpools and writing to MPs. The event is being organised by Community Leisure UK (CLUK) which represents 880 pools across the UK and employ 17,000 people.
Scottish Commonwealth and European medallist Katie Shanahan spoke out in support of the event. Shesaid: “Swimming pools are the centre of communities, bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together. It is such a great way to socialise while exercising and staying fit, and Big Swim Day is the perfect opportunity to get down to your local pool.”
CLUK wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, calling on him to designate leisure and cultural charity trusts as a vulnerable sector as part of the UK Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme – which was unsuccessful.
Leisure leaders are calling for a reversal on this decision, saying pools are particularly vulnerable because of their high energy bills to heat water and the ambient environment.
CLUK’s Scottish chair, Robin Strang, said: “Without continued Government support, our members tell us that up to half of their pools could close or face service cuts. They simply will not be able to afford to run them fully – if at all.
“That could mean alarming numbers of communities being robbed of a pool – potentially putting jobs in jeopardy. Allowing that to happen would be a national disgrace.”
“Given that our members provide community services at affordable prices, it’s the most vulnerable - those already hit hardest by the cost of living crisis and the ongoing impact of Covid-19 - who will suffer the greatest at a time when they need support with their health and wellbeing most.”
“Given that our members provide community services at affordable prices, it’s the most vulnerable - those already hit hardest by the cost of living crisis and the ongoing impact of Covid-19 - who will suffer the greatest at a time when they need support with their health and wellbeing most.”
CLUK members provide community services at affordable prices. It says pool closures would not only block a reroute to better public health, but cause an irreparable blow to elite sporting development, losing medal-winners of the future.
British swimming legend Duncan Goodhew, a gold medallist at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, is supporting the call for Government action.
He said: “This is make-or-break time for an alarming number of swimming pools across the UK. It’s madness that the Government doesn’t seem able to see the danger they are in.
“Without pools and leisure centres being classed as vulnerable, the astronomical energy price hikes their operators face will sadly be the final fatal blow for many.”
Heating an average 25-metre six-lane swimming pool uses about one million kwh of power per year. That compares to the average 2,900 kwh of electricity and 12,000 kwh of gas that energy regulator Ofgem says is used by the average British household annually.
The UK Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides relief for non-domestic users across Great Britain and Northern Ireland by reducing gas and electricity unit prices.
The sector was supported over the first six months of the scheme, but was not on the list announced for inclusion beyond April 1.
